There's a cliché in the NFL: If you have two quarterbacks, you have none.
Over in the NBA, the Los Angeles Lakers, as currently constituted, have three centers: Andre Drummond, Marc Gasol, and Montrezl Harrell. When Anthony Davis (calf strain) returns and slides to the 5 for large chunks of playoff games, they'll have four. (Markieff Morris, a true 4 who can occasionally play small-ball 5, has been an “unsung hero” post-All-Star break.)
This poses a legitimate juggling act and ego management challenge for Lakers head coach Frank Vogel. Also: this is a good thing.
When Drummond was signed off the buyout market in March, Gasol, by collateral damage, was relegated to a spot role in the rotation, and instantly became the most over-qualified third-stringer in the league.
Gasol played, let's call it, divisively OK for most of the season. Solid defensive and 3-point metrics, but an eyesore on the eye test, besides for a few sweet dishes per game. Regardless, Drummond's decision to turn down money to join L.A. ahead of his free agency unequivocally came with a handshake agreement that he would be the starter going forward.
Despite Marc Gasol having an impressive couple of games, Andre Drummond will still be the starter at center when he returns says Lakers coach Frank Vogel.
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardLA) April 7, 2021
Drummond had an abbreviated debut vs. the Milwaukee Bucks, then missed a week with a toe injury. In the two after that, against the Miami Heat and Brooklyn Nets, he more than proved his value down low.
Monday's matchup, across the East River at Madison Square Garden, painted a different picture. Drummond was stifled by Tom Thibodeau's inside-out defense — the fourth-best in the league at defending the paint. The New York Knicks double-teamed Drummond from the get-go, effectively limiting the two-time All-Star to three points, four fouls, and four turnovers in 25 minutes (he grabbed 10 inessential rebounds).
The Lakers (33-21) struggled to keep pace with the Knicks (28-27) in the second half. Led by All-Star Julius Randle — 34 points (13-of-23 FG), 10 rebounds — the Knicks accumulated a 79-64 lead late in the third quarter, which proved insurmountable.
L.A. did make a push in the fourth quarter, sparked by Gasol, who put on his cape and excelled in roughly five minutes of relief pitching. He drained his one open 3, moved the ball, and made a key steal. The Knicks' game plan was focused on swarming the paint, but Gasol spaced the floor.
The Lakers cut the lead to five, only for Gasol to be subbed out for Drummond, who instantly surrendered a bucket and committed two fouls. Truthfully, Vogel should have turned to Gasol earlier.
Marc Gasol with a superb 5 minutes in relief, then gets pulled for Drummond with 4 min left.
Drummond immediately gives up J, commits offensive foul, then fouls Randle.
Not Frank Vogel’s finest move — Gasol was obviously providing a spark and Drummond has struggled all game
— Michael Corvo (@michaelcorvoNBA) April 13, 2021
“All three of our centers have to stay ready and we were looking for a spark,” Vogel explained afterward. “We were getting beat pretty good … fourth quarter, you’re just looking for a spark.”
Lakers head coach Frank Vogel said he was "looking for a spark" when he turned to Marc Gasol in the 4th quarter.
Gasol provided that in his 5 minutes, only to be pulled for Andre Drummond — who was doubled all night and didn't play well — with 4 minutes to go. Odd.
— Michael Corvo (@michaelcorvoNBA) April 13, 2021
Drummond is a solid passer who looks for kickouts — he produced four of the Lakers' 25 turnovers on this sloppy passing performance — but he doesn't orchestrate ball movement like the Big Spaniard. In the 111-98 Knicks win, Gasol finished with as many points (three) as Drummond and Harrell combined.
Gasol's cameo was brief, welcome, and telling. Since the Lakers brought Drummond aboard, Gasol has seen his role restricted while his contributions have been magnified. The prideful veteran, who publicly voiced his displeasure about the demotion, has responded with his most inspired run of play since donning the purple-and-gold uniform.
Against Milwaukee after Drummond's injury, Gasol was a steady hand, posting two blocks, a steal, an assist, and three boards in six minutes. In 24.5 minutes over three games back as starter as Drummond's toenail grew back, Gasol averaged 9.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game.
“Obviously, Andre [Drummond] coming along gives us the depth, but we’re going to need all three of those guys,” Vogel said. “We stated that from Day 1 and Marc is one of our most important players. He dominated the game tonight with five points. This is what Marc brings to the table. He’s a dominant defensive big, former Defensive Player of the Year and he doesn’t need shots offensively, which is good for our group.”
Vogel has repeatedly insisted that Gasol and Harrell, an undersized (6-foot-8) center who can thrive against some units and languish against others — will continue to be focal points of the championship push. He has tried his best to hype up Gasol's value, but words don't hold as much weight as minutes.
“I don’t really see this as a situation where he’s going to fall out of the rotation long term, and he knows that,” Vogel said last week. “Even if there’s nights where he may not play, he’s going to stay ready like he did the other night. He came in, and that’s hard to do is sit over there for three quarters without getting in, and then take your warmups off, get loose and go in and play as well as he did. That’s extremely hard to do, and it’s just a credit to his professionalism and what kind of player he is.”
Gasol hasn't been part of the rotation when the frontcourt is at full strength, sans Davis. Gasol got minutes last week because of Drummond's injury, he was a DNP-CD against the Miami Heat, and he was deactivated for Saturday's matchup in Brooklyn (the team cited a hamstring injury).
Moving Drummond into the starting lineup and entirely removing Gasol from the rotation seemed cold-blooded but understandable when it happened. Based on the way Gasol has responded — on the mic and the court — the pickle isn't any less sour in mid-April.
Fortunately, considering the class, experience and diverse skill set of their bigs, it looks less like a “QB” problem for the Lakers and more like a “crowded backfield ” predicament. In other words: the Lakers could use 'em all.
Gasol can stretch the floor and spur ball movement when necessary, Drummond can bang against low-post presences, and Harrell — who has been a key energizer throughout the regular season — can feast on smaller lineups.
Davis, of course, can play alongside any of them, and the Lakers can go to a Davis-LeBron James-Kyle Kuzma frontline in crunch time. (Vogel has said he's looking forward to deploying lineups with Gasol and Harrell, though we've yet to see it.)
All of it is easier said than done. Either way, this is something the Lakers have to deal with, and a testament to their depth as much as their flaws.
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